OBITUARY: Mrs. Frances K. “Fran” (Kepner) Lower

Mrs. Frances K. “Fran” (Kepner) Lower, 94, of 13172 Welty Road, Waynesboro, died at 2:04 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in her home.
Born July 21, 1918, in Waynesboro, she was the daughter of the late Charles I. and Kathryn (Gladhill) Lower. She was a lifelong resident of the Waynesboro area.
Mrs. Lower graduated from Waynesboro High School with the class of 1936. She later graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Reading Hospital School of Nursing with the class of 1939.
She and her husband, the late Dr. Harold C. Lower, were married on July 14, 1941. They moved to their present residence in 1958. Dr. Lower died on July 1, 1979.
Mrs. Lower practiced nursing for two years prior to her marriage, however she was a homemaker most of her life. She was also an actress since the age of three and continued to act until her last show in 2006 at the age of 88. During her years as an actress she was in musical productions at the Arcade Theater in Waynesboro, high school plays, Waynesboro Little Theater, Trinity Players in Waynesboro, and Totem Pole Playhouse in Caledonia, Pa. She was also involved in One Woman Shows all of her life at many schools, churches, and organizations in area towns. In addition to acting, she also directed musicals for over 20 years, was a judge and coach for Junior Miss and Miss Teen Pageants in the area, and gave Victorian Poetry Readings for the Waynesboro Historical Society.
She was a charter member of the Trinity Players at Trinity United Church of Christ, Waynesboro and the Waynesboro Little Theater. She was also a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, the Theatre Association of Pennsylvania, Antietam Humane Society, and the Waynesboro Hospital Auxiliary.
She is survived by one daughter, Kathryn Filiatreau and her husband John of Louisville, Ky.; two daughters-in-laws, Faye L. Lower of Mont Alto, and Linda Lower McCabe and her husband Nial of Succasunna, N.J.; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Lower, David Lower, Maggie (husband William) Hendrix, and Amy (husband Benjamin) Ensor; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three sons, Dr. Harry Fred Lower, John H. Lower, and Infant Paul Lower; and one brother, C. Fred Kepner.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Trinity United Church of Christ, 30 W. North St., Waynesboro, with Rev. Susan D'heedene officiating.
Burial will be private at the convenience of the family in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services, Monday afternoon, in the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Trinity Players or The John H. Lower Memorial Fund, both C/O Trinity United Church of Christ, 30 W, North St., Waynesboro, Pa. 17268; or the Hoffman Homes for Youth, 815 Orphanage Road, Littlestown, Pa. 17340.
Grove- Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, is handling the arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com

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